5 Key Takeaways for The Outer Worlds 2 from Starfield's Success

Highlights

The Outer Worlds 2 should take note of Starfield's weaknesses, particularly its absence of space exploration features, and prioritize developing a seamless gameplay experience with reduced loading times.

The Outer Worlds 2 has the opportunity to enhance the gaming experience by addressing Starfield's shortcomings in land transportation and UI design. By improving these aspects, the game can provide a more enjoyable gameplay experience. While maintaining its engaging storytelling and satirical approach, The Outer Worlds 2 should prioritize attention to detail and learn from Starfield's mistakes to deliver a focused and well-executed sequel.

Space exploration has always been a popular theme in mainstream media, particularly seen in the highly profitable and iconic Star Wars and Star Trek series. This trend extends to video games, where franchises have created unique adaptations of traversing the vast expanses of space. One of the most highly praised space-themed games of recent times is The Outer Worlds, developed by Obsidian. The game offers players a first-person perspective of the turmoil in the Halcyon colony, earning it acclaim from fans. With the upcoming release of The Outer Worlds 2 following the success of Starfield, a Bethesda title, the sequel must take lessons from its predecessor and impress its dedicated fan base.

Although Obsidian has provided fans with a sneak peek of what to anticipate from The Outer Worlds 2 through an official trailer, updates on the game's development have been sparse. The developers have chosen to keep their plans under wraps. However, this silence has not deterred fans from speculating about potential improvements for the sequel. Starfield, which made a splash with its September release, has set a benchmark for all space games to follow. The Outer Worlds 2 cannot afford to disappoint its audience by falling short of expectations. As with any game, there are certain elements that can either succeed or fail, and fans hope that Obsidian will utilize Starfield's strengths as a guide for what to incorporate and what to avoid in their own creation.

Starfield Has a Few Pitfalls The Outer Worlds 2 Needs to Avoid

Starfield generated mixed opinions within the gaming industry prior to its launch. Previews sparked both criticism and excitement among fans. Despite the positive aspects of Starfield since its release, there are certain aspects that players dislike about the game which The Outer Worlds 2 should consider avoiding. One issue that players had with Starfield was the fast travel feature and its accompanying loading screens, as the expected space-faring elements were lacking. Since the ability to land or take off is currently not possible, the game lacks continuous flow state gameplay.

In contrast, The Outer Worlds, despite being launched on last-gen consoles, had significantly fewer loading screens. In light of Starfield's criticism, it would be logical for Obsidian to further reduce the number of loading screens or minimize menus in The Outer Worlds 2, allowing players to fully experience the vastness of space. Another drawback of Starfield was the absence of land transportation, which Todd Howard acknowledged as potentially impacting the exploration pacing. The Outer Worlds also lacked land vehicles, and based on the reaction to Starfield's omission, it might be beneficial for The Outer Worlds 2 to reconsider and include this feature in its gameplay if it can be enjoyable for players.

Bethesda's UI design has always been lacking, leaving players to rely on mods to enhance their experience in games like Fallout and The Elder Scrolls. Unfortunately, Starfield carries on this trend, with its cluttered inventory system causing frustration when searching for items. The problem is a noticeable pain point, similar to The Outer Worlds' issues with inventory management, although not to the same extent as Starfield, which requires a significant amount of time sorting through menus.

For The Outer Worlds 2, it is crucial to avoid the UI issues that have become synonymous with Bethesda. Gamers are hopeful for a smoother and more streamlined experience in the sequel. Obsidian shouldn't only focus on the negative lessons, as Starfield does have several redeeming qualities despite its obvious shortcomings.

The title has been praised for its captivating storytelling, much like The Outer Worlds which received similar acclaim for its satirical style. Fans are eagerly anticipating the return of humor and classic sci-fi tropes, this time with a more focused narrative instead of Starfield's exploration-driven gameplay. However, in order to avoid repeating the mistakes of the Bethesda title, The Outer Worlds 2 must carefully learn from the small errors it made. Currently, The Outer Worlds 2 is under development.